REAGAN SEEKS CUT IN STEEL IMPORTS THROUGH ACCORDS

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President Reagan today ordered actions that the White House said would reduce steel imports and help the American steel industry.

The President directed his trade negotiator, Bill Brock, to negotiate ''voluntary restraint agreements'' with steel-exporting countries.

This will result in more protection for the domestic steel industry than some members of the Cabinet had recommended and less protection than the mandatory quotas and tariffs sought by the industry and recommended by a majority of the United States International Trade Commission.

But the White House, seeking to assure the industry that it would get protection, added that it would act to block access to the American market for countries that refuse to agree to limit their steel shipments to the United States.

Under pressure from other industries, the President has also granted import relief to the nation's textile manufacturers, Detroit's auto makers, Milwaukee's Harley-Davidson motorcyle company, Pennsylvania's specialty steel producers and even Pennsylvania's mushroom growers.

The action on steel followed Mr. Reagan's refusal earlier this month to grant protection to the domestic copper industry, which had complained about imports. In that case, he reasoned that copper users would be hurt more than copper producers would be helped.

Mr. Brock announced today's steel decision after a tense Cabinet meeting that found the President's advisers deeply divided.

Approach of Election Cited

His senior political adviser, James A. Baker 3d, the White House chief of staff, was among those who argued that, with the election seven weeks away, the President had to respond affirmatively to the steel industry's complaints that profits and jobs have been jeopardized by a flood of foreign steel.

The White House expects, it said, that the agreements to be negotiated will hold foreign steel to 18 1/2 percent of the American market. So far this year imports have averaged about 25 percent of the market. In July they surged to 33 percent.

The ultimate implications of the decision remained unclear. Presented as upholding the principles of free trade, some analysts suggested it was potentially the most protectionist action taken by this Administration. For example, it was the first time any President has set an import penetration figure for steel.

Mr. Brock was ordered to conclude negotiations within 90 days with a number of steel-producing nations to achieve voluntary restraint agreements. Under these agreements, exports of steel to the United States would be reduced.

The countries involved are those that are said to be selling steel at unfairly low prices or to be overly restrictive in their own steel import policies.

If agreements cannot be reached to limit steel shipments to this country and prevent sudden surges, the President will use his authority under the laws against unfair trade to ''assure that these countries do not maintain unrestricted access to the United States market,'' according to the White House.

Brazil, Spain, Japan and South Korea were among the countries identified as those with whom restraint agreements would be sought.

Japan and the nations of the European Economic Community are the two biggest suppliers of steel to the United States. Negotiations with the Europeans will be limited to pipe and tube because other products are covered by a 1982 agreement.

Mr. Brock said he was not accusing the Japanese of selling steel unfairly, but he noted that ''there is at least some problem'' when imported steel in Japan represents only 4.9 percent of the Japanese market, compared with 24.9 percent in the United States.

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He and other trade officials indicated today that they would contend that Japan should be taking more steel from its steel-producing partners in the Pacific area, such as South Korea.

In characterizing today's decision, Mr. Brock called it ''a clear message that the U.S. intends to play by the rules and that we expect other countries will do so as well.'' He said it also showed ''a clear determination that we will not be the world's steel dump.''

Spain, Brazil and Korea have been accused in anti-dumping and countervailing-duty suits filed by the American steel industry. The suits are still in litigation.

Another element of the program announced today is Administration support of legislation introduced by Senator John Heinz, Republican of Pennsylvania, to make all ''voluntary agreements'' and ''surge control arrangements'' enforceable at the nation's border.

The idea of voluntary agreements is one the Administration seized upon in 1981 when it was deliberating what to do about large imports of cars from Japan. Those restraints, which were to last no longer than two or three years, have been in effect nearly four years and may be renewed, Administration trade officials say.

In today's decision, Mr. Reagan rejected a recommendation by the International Trade Commission, a Federal agency, calling for tariffs and quotas on products covering about 70 percent of steel imports. But his action was far-reaching. ''If they are serious about this,'' said one foreign steel official who asked not to be named, ''this is the most protectionist move yet taken by this Administration. If they are not serious, then they are lying to the industry.''

The President acted just a day after Walter F. Mondale, in a speech at Cleveland, called for mandatory quotas limiting steel imports to 17 percent of the market. The steel industry and the United Steelworkers union are supporting legislation in Congress that would limit imports to 15 percent of the market.

Although the industry welcomed the President's action tonight, it said it was still backing the legislation.

According to a White House statement, the Presidential decision calls for these things:

- ''Vigorous and comprehensive action'' against unfair trade practices by steel-exporting countries, with such action to be taken through enforcement of existing trade laws.

- Negotiated ''surge control'' arrangements with countries whose exports have ''increased rapidly, excessively and unfairly to the detriment of the national economy.''

- ''A steel import stabilization framework in which swift, comprehensive and consistent action against unfair trade prctices can be expected.''

As a result, the White House statement said, the Administration expects the ''return to normal market forces and fair trade'' to result in a ''market-determined import penetration of approximately 18 1/2 percent.''

The 18 1/2 percent excludes semifinished steel. Imports of this product - comprising the ingots, billets and slabs from which finished steel bars, sheet, strip and other products are made - represent an additional 2.9 percent of domestic consumption.

Japan and the European Economic Community each have about 5 to 6 percent of the American steel market. Canada has about 2 percent. It was unclear tonight whether there would also be negotiations with Canada.

To achieve the 18 1/2 percent total penetration for basic finished steel, without reducing the shares of Japan, the Common Market and Canada, would mean that the rest of the world - about 40 other suppliers - would have to share about 4 to 5 percent of the American market.

Korea, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico are among the other leading suppliers. But South Africa and Mexico have already signed voluntary restraint agreements, which have led the domestic industry to withdraw unfair-trade cases filed against them.

A version of this article appears in print on September 19, 1984, on Page A00001 of the National edition with the headline: REAGAN SEEKS CUT IN STEEL IMPORTS THROUGH ACCORDS. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe